DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS 2000 NAVY PENTAGON WASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000 OPNAVINST 3541.1G N9 OPNAV INSTRUCTION 3541.1G From: Chief of Naval Operations Subj: SURFACE SHIP AND SUBMARINE SURVIVABILITY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS Ref: (a) OPNAVINST 9070.1A (b) NTTP 3-20.31 (NOTAL) (c) U.S. Navy Regulations, 1990 (d) OPNAVINST 3500.34G 1. Purpose. To issue policy as it pertains to surface ship and submarine survivability training in order to maintain a high level of survivability knowledge and skills throughout the fleet. This instruction is a complete revision and should be reviewed in its entirety. A summary of the major changes include: a. The addition of Director, Undersea Warfare Division (OPNAV N97) for policy coordination and resource sponsor action, and submarine survivability training requirements. b. All enlisted recruits while attached to Navy Recruit Training Command (NAVCRUITRACOM) will only receive level 0 familiarization firefighting training. Upon graduation, Sailors whose first duty assignment that involves sea will receive initial level I basic ships and submarine training at Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) prior to departure from Great Lakes region. Sailors who are not en route to an immediate sea duty assignment will receive level I training at a school or fleet concentration area. c. Replace fleet commanders in chief responsibility with Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM) and includes responsibilities for all type commanders (TYCOM) surface and undersea warfare, as well as expeditionary and naval air for embarked squadrons, units, and personnel. 2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 3541.1F.
3. Discussion a. Survivability and recoverability as defined by reference (a). (1) Survivability is a measure of both the ship s mission critical systems and crew to perform assigned warfare missions, and of the protection provided to the crew to prevent serious injury or death. (2) Recoverability is a measure of the capability of the ship and crew, after initial damage effects, whatever the cause, to take emergency action to contain and control damage, prevent loss of a damaged ship, minimize personnel casualties, and restore and sustain primary mission capabilities. b. Surface ships (combatants, carriers, amphibious, and auxiliaries) and submarines are required to not only combat fires and flooding, but to also restore vital systems in order to combat subsequent threats. Intrinsic to this is the restoration. Reference (b) emphasizes the systems approach to survivability by integrating all on-board capabilities to effectively maintain the vessel s offensive power. 4. Policy. The importance of survivability cannot be over emphasized. Survivability at sea and in port, where a ship or submarine can be subjected to various forms of damage, is an all-hands responsibility. The keystone to effective survivability is preparedness, which requires a high level of command support and training. a. Per reference (c), each commanding officer is required to maintain a level of damage control and battle proficiency which enables a ship or submarine to carry out its assigned mission in its projected environment. b. Shipboard and submarine survivability training is organized into levels which are intended to provide the requisite amount of knowledge and training based on the Sailor s assignment and specific responsibilities. (1) All Sailors require a fundamental understanding of damage control principles and practices. 2
(2) Sailors going on to serve on ships or submarines require a higher level of survivability knowledge and training. (3) Certain members of the battle organization and command leadership require specialized survivability training. (4) The various levels of knowledge and training included in this instruction are progressive and are designed to increase proportionally as the responsibility of the individual grows over a career continuum. 5. Scope. Survivability training requirements established by this instruction apply to all Navy personnel whose duties include shipboard and submarine assignment, to include Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and Commander, Naval Air Forces squadron personnel that may embark on sea-going vessels, and U.S. Navy military personnel assigned to afloat forward staging bases, mobile logistics platforms, and Military Sealift Command ships. 6. Objective. By providing definitive requirements, the training community can adequately provide fleet personnel with the skills to combat damage while maintaining mission integrity. 7. Training Requirements a. Level of Survivability Training Requirements. Formal courses must have their appropriate shipboard or submarine survivability training requirement level documented in the catalog of naval training courses (CANTRAC). A course may satisfy more than one level of survivability training. Ensuring completion of associated firefighting and damage control personnel qualification standards (PQS), or other TYCOM specific training and qualification programs, is the responsibility of the fleet afloat unit, and will be completed after the Service member s arrival at the unit, as required. (1) Level 0 - Familiarization (a) Required for all Navy enlisted accessions. IL. (b) Delivery location - NAVCRUITRACOM, Great Lakes, 3
(c) Frequency - one time, as part of basic orientation upon entry to the naval service; does not expire. (d) Provides general familiarization to damage control and survivability and includes, but is not limited to: 1. Ship and submarine design for survivability; 2. Hull structure familiarization; 3. Prevention and control of fire; 4. Flooding and explosive damage; 5. Equipment familiarization; 6. Chemical, biological, and radiological defense (CBRD) and survival skills; 7. Damage control drills; and 8. Use of CBRD gas confidence chamber. (2) Level I - Basic Ships and Submarines personnel. (a) Required for all shipboard and submarine (b) Delivery location 1. Those Sailors whose first permanent fleet duty unit is projected to be a ship or submarine will, upon graduation from NAVCRUITRACOM, transfer to NSTC and receive initial level I training at Firefighter Trainer, Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS) Unit, co-located in Great Lakes, IL. Some Sailors will immediately receive level I training then depart for a ship; some will stay in Great Lakes and receive training sometime during their A school time; and still others will receive training then depart to another school (e.g., Joint Culinary School, Submarine Learning Center). 2. Other Sailors (e.g., projected airman ratings, Sea Air Land (SEAL) candidates, those assigned to Navy 4
Ceremonial Guard) will receive initial firefighting training at their accession pipeline school or in fleet concentration area schools. (c) Frequency 1. Initial - conducted prior to arrival at the fleet unit whenever practicable, but no later than 3 months following arrival at the fleet unit. 2. Follow-on - training expiration and retraining requirement must be established by TYCOMs. (d) Provides minimum survivability, damage control, and firefighting training required for sea-going personnel and includes, but is not limited to: 1. Safety procedures; 2. Damage control communications; 3. Direct and indirect firefighting; 4. Procedures for multi-space fires; 5. Firefighting equipment; 6. Personnel protective equipment; 7. Systems and markings; 8. Hose handling; procedures; 9. Nozzle-man and hose team relieving 10. Fire teams; 11. Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); 12. Live firefighting dressed in appropriate ensemble and donned SCBA (see Note 1); 13. Flooding containment and control; 5
14. Damage containment; 15. Setting fire and flooding boundaries; control; only); 16. Conflagration control and mass casualty 17. CBRD and survival skills (surface ships 18. Proper use of survivability devices; 19. Escape routes; only); 20. Decontamination procedures (surface ships 21. System employment; 22. Equipment operation and maintenance; and 23. Hull maintenance and integrity. Note 1: Live firefighting training is defined as human interaction in the manual extinguishment of unconfined open flames through use of appropriate fire extinguishing agent(s). Training must include use of shipboard approved individual survival and protection equipment. (e) Additional onboard requirements 1. Completion of TYCOM assigned survivability and damage control-related qualifications (including PQS, as applicable) per TYCOM guidance; 2. Instruction in survivability and damage control as it applies to the assigned ship or submarine; and 3. Embarked units, upon reporting to afloat commands, must receive instruction in survivability to enable them to carry out correct initial damage control actions. 6
(3) Level II Advanced (a) Ships 1. Required for personnel who, because of their duties, require additional survivability and damage control training. Personnel requiring level II training include, but are not limited to: a. Engineering department personnel; b. Flight deck duty personnel; personnel; personnel; personnel; petty officers; c. Vital combat systems space supervisory d. Petroleum, oils, lubricant and ordnance e. Surface warfare qualified enlisted f. Division and department damage control g. Gas free engineers; specialists; h. Shipboard CBRD operations and training i. Engineering department principal assistants; main propulsion assistants, auxiliaries officers, electrical officers; j. Repair and fire party leaders; k. In port emergency team members; personnel; members; l. Damage control repair station (DCRS) m. Rescue and assistance detail team 7
n. Rapid response and flying squad members; o. Damage control assistant (DCA); p. DCA senior enlisted; and q. Other positions performing advanced damage control duties. schools. 2. Delivery location - fleet concentration area 3. Frequency a. Initial - conducted upon assignment to advanced damage control duties. b. Follow-on - training expiration and retraining requirement must be established by TYCOMs. 4. Provides advanced damage control tactics, techniques, and procedures to include, but not limited to: a. Advanced firefighting procedures; and duties. b. Advanced damage control techniques and 5. Additional on-board requirements - completion of applicable PQS per advanced duty assignment. (b) Submarines 1. Required for all personnel per TYCOMapproved training, qualification, and proficiency programs. Additionally, damage control team leadership, as designated by ship s watch, quarter, and station bill, should attend a formal course of instruction in advanced firefighting. 2. Delivery location - shipboard and fleet concentration area schools. 8
3. Frequency a. Formal school-house advanced firefighting course - upon assignment to advanced damage control duties. b. Other - per TYCOM-approved training, qualification, and proficiency program. 4. Provides advanced firefighting tactics, techniques, and procedures. 5. Additional on-board requirements - completion of applicable firefighting and damage control training and qualifications per TYCOM-approved training qualification, and proficiency program. (4) Level III Team (a) Ships 1. Required for personnel who, because of their duties, require additional survivability and damage control training as members of a team or battle organization repair party. Personnel receiving level III training include, but are not limited to: systems repair; a. Repair party leaders, including combat b. In port emergency team; c. Rescue and assistance detail teams; d. DCRS personnel; and members. schools. e. Rapid response team and flying squad 2. Delivery location - fleet concentration area 9
3. Frequency a. Initial - conducted upon assignment as members of a team or battle organization repair party. b. Follow-on - training expiration and retraining requirement must be established by TYCOMs. 4. Provides team training conducted both ashore and on board ship through formal courses, drills, and exercises. These exercises will include all peacetime emergencies as well as battle damage exercises corresponding to weapon threats in the expected areas of ship or submarine deployment. This level of training will also include live firefighting in complex and integrated battle damage scenarios, to include engagement of damage in applicable shipboard personal protective equipment. (b) Submarines 1. Required for all personnel. 2. Delivery location - shipboard and shorebased trainers in fleet concentration area schools. 3. Frequency - per TYCOM-approved training, qualification, and proficiency program. 4. Provides team training conducted through responsive training ashore and through continuing training, proficiency, and drills on board (5) Level IV Management (a) Required for personnel who, because of their battle organization and administrative duties, require additional survivability and damage control training. Personnel receiving level IV training include, but are not limited to: 1. Commanding officers; 2. Executive officers; 3. Surface ship department heads designated by TYCOM (see Note 2); 10
4. Surface ship DCAs; watchstanders; 5. Submarine damage control central 6. Surface ship condition I and III combat systems officers of the watch and combat system readiness officers; 7. Surface ship electrical officers; 8. Surface ship repair party leaders including combat system repair; watch; and 9. Surface ship engineering officers of the 10. Surface ship senior enlisted damage control program management and training specialists. Note 2: Surface ship engineering department heads and DCAs receive specialized training during their pipeline course that exceeds the standard level IV training requirements. (b) Delivery location - conducted as officer pipeline training or in the fleet concentration area schools as appropriate. (c) Frequency 1. Initial - conducted upon assignment to associated battle organization and administrative duties. 2. Follow-on - training expiration and retraining requirement must be established by TYCOMs. (d) Provides advanced battle organization and administrative training conducted both ashore and on board through formal courses, drills and exercises and will include, but are not limited to: control; 1. Conflagration control and mass casualty 11
2. Threat weapons effects to the ship and submarine for areas of deployment; 3. Operation, management, reconfiguration and administration of the battle organization; 4. Inspection and battle damage investigation procedures to be employed on vital systems; 5. Procedures to properly conduct survivability drills and training; 6. Battle and emergency preparation; 7. Battle and emergency decision making; 8. Assessment of residual capabilities after battle damage; damage containment priorities; 9. Equipment and vital system restoration priority setting in support of maintaining or restoring warfighting capability after damage; 10. Vital systems capabilities and reconfiguration decisions in support of essential mission and damage control capabilities; and 11. Damage control containment priorities. b. Waivers. The training requirements listed in subparagraph 7a capture the minimum survivability training for personnel serving aboard ships and submarines. Waiver approval authority for levels I through IV resides with the TYCOM and should only be considered in exceptional circumstances. TYCOMs must manage waivers and maintain a waiver audit trail for any deviation from the requirements established in this instruction. 8. Responsibilities a. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) will provide overall policy guidance for survivability training and will coordinate efforts for such training. 12
b. Resource sponsors will support ship and submarine survivability training requirements validated by their warfare area and approved via the program objective memorandum process. c. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (CNO N1) will: (1) Ensure that personnel who enter the Naval Service acquire level I training prior to reporting to their first permanent duty station afloat whenever practicable, as stated in subparagraph 7a(2)(c)1. (2) Ensure that personnel assigned to overseas homeported units receive appropriate level survivability, firefighting, and damage control training en route and prior to reporting to their permanent duty station afloat whenever that duty station does not have a firefighting training capability. d. COMUSFLTFORCOM must ensure TYCOMs (surface, undersea, expeditionary, and naval air) and other subordinate commands comply with the guidance and requirements of this instruction. e. TYCOMs must: (1) Ensure subordinate commands comply with the guidance and requirements of this instruction. (2) Provide functional survivability training for individuals and teams to meet the needs of the Navy and the requirements set forth in this instruction. (3) Specify scope and nature of on-board training required and identify training material and equipment needed for its support. (4) Exercise a continuing review of survivability proficiency and provide feedback information to CNO, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (COMNAVSEASYSCOM); Commander, Naval Air Systems Command; Commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC); Chief of Navy Reserve; Commander, Naval Safety Center; and Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED). (5) Issue specific formal ship and submarine survivability school requirements to attain levels I through IV 13
training and ensure that minimum survivability requirements are completed by all shipboard and submarine personnel. (6) Designate reserve units that require survivability skills and training. Additionally, ensure individuals (active or reserve) mobilized, recalled to active duty, or assigned as an individual augmentee to a unit requiring associated training, receive that training prior to reporting to the unit. (7) Manage, administer, and approve (or disapprove) waivers per this instruction. (8) As applicable, coordinate with NETC per reference (d) to maintain current PQS for survivability battle organization billets, to ensure survivability proficiency knowledge and skill levels minimum standards are met. (9) Support NETC in the development of training curricula and other training materials required to support survivability training. (10) Provide training requirements for survivability training and coordinate efforts for such training. (11) Provide general and specific operational requirements for new and improved survivability equipment and techniques. f. COMNAVSEASYSCOM must: (1) Serve as a central source for obtaining operational and technical survivability information pertaining to battle damage and survivability; the capability of ships and submarines to fight through battle damage; survivability incidents; ship and submarine leadership responsibilities; Sailor performance; and equipment. (2) Provide training support for new or extensively modified survivability equipment, systems, and techniques. (3) Provide equipment and analytic support required to meet survivability training requirements to training activities and forces afloat. 14
(4) On a continuing basis, provide technical information, analytic support, and reports for use in survivability curricula, course materials, and Navy enlisted classification (NEC) reviews to the training activities, other systems commands, bureaus and warfare sponsors. (5) Provide a continuing review of survivability training to ensure technical accuracy and currency. (6) Initiate and coordinate funding of the development of survivability training devices and aids as required. (7) Serve as the primary technical authority for the design, installation, and maintenance of all ship and submarine survivability systems, equipment, and material furnished under their cognizance. g. Chief of Navy Reserve must ensure Selected Reserve Sailors assigned to any COMUSFLTFORCOM-designated reserve units that require survivability training properly complete that training. h. BUMED must: (1) Provide a review of survivability training curricula and course materials to the training activities, the Chief of Naval Personnel, and warfare sponsors when requested, to ensure adequate instruction in techniques and procedures for care and prevention of personnel casualties. (2) Provide, on a continuing basis, technical information and reports in responsible areas for use in survivability curricula, course materials, and NEC reviews to the training activities, the Chief of Naval Personnel, and warfare sponsors. i. NETC must: (1) Provide specialized ship and submarine survivability training for individuals and teams in order to meet the needs of the Navy and the requirements set forth in this instruction. 15
(2) Coordinate with COMUSFLTFORCOM and TYCOMs to specify the level requirement satisfied by each course of formal survivability training, and ensure the CANTRAC reflects the correct level for each course. (3) As applicable, coordinate with TYCOMs per reference (d) to maintain current PQS for applicable survivability battle organization billets, ratings, and other personnel so that minimum standards for survivability proficiency knowledge and skill levels can be attained. (4) Provide for the development of training curricula and other training materials required to support survivability training. j. NAVCRUITRACOM must coordinate with NSTC and NETC to transfer newly graduated Sailors - whose first permanent fleet duty unit is projected to be a ship or submarine - to attend level I firefighting training at SWOS Unit, Great Lakes, IL. 9. Action. Addressees will take such action as necessary to carry out the responsibilities assigned in paragraph 8. 10. Records Management. Records created as a result of the instruction, regardless of media and format, must be managed per Secretary of the Navy Manual 5210.1 of January 2012. BRIAN J. PERSONS Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Warfare Systems Distribution: Electronic only, via Department of the Navy Issuances Web Site http://doni.documentservices.dla.mil/ 16